Incident Overview
A pilot completed a checkout in the aircraft prior to departing on the accident flight. The pilot informed officials that the intended route included flying to the Hawaiian volcano area before returning to the departure airport. The aircraft did not return as expected.
Reporting and Search Efforts
When the aircraft failed to return, the operator contacted the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and reported it as overdue. The FAA initiated a search of surrounding airports, but the aircraft was not located. Subsequently, a search and rescue procedure was initiated.
Search Termination
The search and rescue efforts continued for seven days before being terminated. Despite the extensive search, the aircraft was not found. The fate of the aircraft and its pilot remains unknown.